Renting or buying a car in France

Hiring a car in France is expensive – at least when compared to hiring in Spain or the US – particularly for short periods, although prices have come down recently. To hire a car you must be at least 18 years old, although most companies have increased this to 21 or even 25, and most also have an upper age limit of 60 or 65. You must have held a full licence for at least a year and present your original licence (not a photocopy) – non-EU licence holders require an international driving permit – and usually personal identification as well. Payment must usually be made by credit card. Continue reading “Renting or buying a car in France”

French accommodation tips

Finding suitable accommodation is one of your first and most important tasks on arrival in France – but it isn’t always plain sailing. Property for rent isn’t hard to find in France, but your success in securing it depends on a number of factors. Some landlords refuse to let their property to tenants of certain nationalities and/or skin colours. It isn’t unheard of for a prospective tenant to arrange a meeting with a landlord by phone but to have the door shut in his face once the landlord sees that the tenant isn’t white. Continue reading “French accommodation tips”

Dealing with French bureaucracy

French bureaucracy (euphemistically called l’administration) is legendary – and most foreigners have an ‘epic’ tale to tell of their dealings with it. You should be prepared for frustration caused by time-wasting and blatant obstruction on the part of officials. Often you may wonder whether the right hand knows what any other part of the body is up to (it usually doesn’t) and you should expect to receive conflicting information from consulates, government departments, préfectures and town halls. Continue reading “Dealing with French bureaucracy”

Understanding French immigration

Immigration is an inflammatory issue in France – literally. The 2005 Paris riots, which were ostensibly sparked by police and administrative discrimination against non-white immigrants, resulted in the burning of some 10,000 cars as well as dozens of factories, schools, sports centres and religious buildings. The government has recently introduced new laws to curb non-EU immigration and is cracking down on illegal immigrants, who can be forcibly repatriated, although a controversial plan to send immigrant children ‘home’ was quickly abandoned. This makes it more difficult for non-EU citizens to enter the country, while most EU nationals barely need to wave their passport at immigration officials as they cross the border. Continue reading “Understanding French immigration”

Home Exchanges for France

An alternative to renting is to exchange your home abroad with one in France. This way you can experience home living in France for a relatively small cost and may save yourself the expense of a long-term rental. Although there’s an element of risk involved in exchanging your home with another family, most agencies thoroughly vet clients and many have a track record of successful swaps (a recent UK Consumers’ Continue reading “Home Exchanges for France”

Understanding the French Education System

An Overview of the System In France, the centralized public school system is under the supervision of the Ministry of National Education, Research, and Technology. It is for all intents and purposes the same everywhere, including overseas (some 410 overseas schools located in 125 different countries), except for minor differences due to local conditions or constraints. Continue reading “Understanding the French Education System”

The French National Health System

France has an excellent, although expensive, national health system.  If you qualify for healthcare under the national health system, you and your family are entitled to subsidized or (in certain cases) free medical and dental treatment.  Benefits include general and specialist care, hospitalization, laboratory services, medicines, dental care, maternity care, appliances and transportation.  Those who don’t automatically qualify can contribute voluntarily or take out private health insurance. Continue reading “The French National Health System”